Women Run The World

It's New York City, baby

Imagine going to a far-off unknown city to run a distance that is miles further than you have ever run before, with 15 women you have never met and aren't even from your country. Are you imagining it? Are you thinking you might be crazy for doing this? Are you going over everything that could go wrong? Are you feeling stressed, nervous, slightly nauseous, and above all excited and full of anticipation? Then you are right where I was a few weeks ago.

Let me start by going back a few months to December 2023. It was a regular, grey winter's day when The Women's Running Podcast (do yourself a favour and go listen to it, but only after you have finished reading this) announced they would be flying out to New York in April to run the Real Simple Women's Half Marathon in Central Park. And we, the listeners, could join them if we wanted for a weekend of fun and - of course - running. Having listened to both Esther and Holly (the hosts) for over 150 hours and loving every second of it, I honestly didn't have to think long about this opportunity. I probably should have. Although that might have meant not going. Which would have been a mistake because going on this adventure is the best decision I have made these last couple of years. And that is coming from someone who married her best friend about a year and a half ago.

What made this experience so mind-blowingly awesome, you ask? Well, forget for a second that the event was in Central Park, New York. Literally the City of Dreams. You can even forget the incredible feeling of pushing your body further than you ever have before. Or the pride you feel when you have trained for something for months and finally make it to the finish line of the literal and figurative half-marathon you just did. Forget all of that and you are still left with a weekend abroad with a group of the most amazing, supportive, kind and simply fun women you have ever met. Being part of such a community is like coming home; being able to be yourself whilst feeling like you belong.

It is incredible what Women's Running and more specifically Esther and Holly, have achieved with their magazine and podcast. They have created an inclusive and supportive community in which they have brought together women, not only from the UK but also Europe and far beyond. At some point during the half marathon, a US Podsquader (yes, that is what we call ourselves) none of us had met before, ran up to Holly - whom she had recognized by voice only - to talk for a bit before speeding away again. I mean, what are the odds? This can only mean that our community is slowly but surely taking over the world, right? I say: Women's Running for president. Because like the people of the NYRR (New York Road Runners) and Real Simple so aptly put on all the race shirts: 'Women Run The World'.

It's Race Day

The half marathon itself was of course the highlight of the weekend. Let me paint you a picture: it is 7am in the big city. You leave the hotel in a group of excited women who you are by now allowed to call friends. The sun has not yet reached its peak and is blocked by the many high buildings, so you are quite cold in your running shorts. With a purposeful stride your little group hurries to Central Park. You notice more and more women in similar running outfits heading the same way.

A force is pulling all of you towards this big, green pulsating lung. You make it past the big entrance that is normally crawling with tourists and follow the growing crowd. Suddenly you are surrounded by 8,500 women of whom at least half are wearing pink. Your heart swells with love for all of them. Right then and there you decide that Barbie was right after all; pink ís the best colour in the world. It is not girly or ridiculous or a cliche; it is a sign of female empowerment.

And there is female empowerment aplenty. Everywhere you look there are little groups of women warming up together, smiling at each other and offering last-minute advice. It is clear that only good vibes are allowed. It is not long now until the race starts so everyone is rushing towards their pen. Speedy runners up front, plodders (like yours truly) at the back. The nerves really kick in at this point. The excitement and energy is growing and somewhere at the start line - about a mile and a half away from you - a semi-famous person you've never heard of starts hyping up the crowd even more when suddenly ...

10 ...
9 ...

It’s the final countdown

8 ...
7 ...
6 ...

The anticipation is palpable

5 ...
4 ...

Almost time to start running now

3 ...
2 ...
1 ...

AND WE ARE OFF

... at a very slow sluggish pace that can barely be called walking. Not the strong and fast start you always imagine. Turns out the mile and a half walk to your pen now needs to happen again, but in the other direction. Small anticlimax. Oh well, the moment you actually get to mile 0 and officially start the race, is completely worth it. It is as if every single spectator is there especially for you. Cheering you on. Waving at you. Believing in you. Pushing you forwards. And forwards you go. A manic grin plasters itself on your face and won't come off for at least a few miles. Afterwards you'll notice the muscles in your cheeks hurt more than those in your legs. It most definitely was the experience of a lifetime.

It's all about the people

Sometimes you hear people complain about Americans (and more specifically New Yorkers) being loud and pushy and always talking to you when you clearly don't want them to. Honestly, I might have been one of those people. But no longer. I hereby vow never to join these Negative Nancy's again. Because it is these Americans that kept me going all the way. The Yassss Queen after a particularly long stretch, the You can do it giirrrrrl on an annoyingly steep and seemingly endless climb, and the Don't give up, you're almost there that - although clearly a lie - gave me the heart to do just that. Not give up. Which brings me to what I think made this event so incredible: the people.

The supporters, the cheers, the lovely signs geared towards women, the encouraging marshals, the clapping when the elites lapped the amateurs, the feeling of community, the reassuring smiles, ... It is amazing what we can accomplish when we surround ourselves with like-minded and supportive people. When we all work together towards a common goal. Which in this case wasn't even - as you might think - about the running or the finishing of a race. It was about creating an inclusive event for women of all shapes and sizes, from all cultures and backgrounds. Where every single person could be themselves and go at their own pace while feeling good about themselves. It was about being part of something bigger.

Remember the feelings of stress, excitement and nausea I mentioned at the start of this piece? I am happy to report that these have all resurfaced. Because somehow, despite hurting my lungs and feet worse than I ever have, I have registered for a couple more races. One of which is - dare I say it - a marathon. My inexperienced self might think this has something to do with the awesomeness of the specific half I ran. But a little birdie has told me this is apparently a common occurrence known as Runner's Euphoria.

Whatever it is, it brought me right back to where I started. Ready to do the whole cycle of building up speed and endurance, which means saying no to drinks and parties in favor of going for a 2 hour run Sunday morning, all over again. And we wonder why non-runners call us crazy. Although, "Right back to where I started" is not entirely correct. I actually left New York with a few important extra things in my suitcase that I picked up along the way. Some unforgettable memories of an experience like no other, meaningful connections with great women I would otherwise not have met and above all, the discovery that women do indeed run the world.